Every October and November, polar bears congregate along the coast east of Churchill waiting for Hudson Bay to freeze so they can get back onto the sea ice to hunt seals. Churchill sits directly on their migration corridor, making it the world's most accessible spot for viewing wild polar bears at close range on land.
Tundra buggy tours take small groups out to the coastal scrub in heated off-road vehicles. Bears approach the vehicles out of curiosity and have been known to stand and peer in through the windows. The season runs roughly from mid-October through mid-November; the peak is usually the last two weeks of October when dozens of bears are visible at once. Tour operators include Frontiers North and Natural Habitat Adventures. Book several months in advance — spaces fill quickly.